Process and apparatus for treating latex.



E. M. SLUCUM.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THEMING LATEX.

APPLICAHOH HLEIJ rte. 23. IJH.

Patented Juno 4, 1918.

W'TNESS E INVENTOR dw d f i/a zw J in 617' filfi'locum,

///5 A TTOR/VEY ill fi'iil lll r dl ji ifi iiiilti mYiVflRD MARE SLOCUM, OF MEIIAN, SUMATFJL, DUIFGB'. EAST INZUIEEE, ASSIGNOE TO GENERAL RUBBER COMFAE'Y, A CORIQJ-E E;.TI01' OF NEW JERSEY.

PROCESS AND AIEP ARAT'US F013; TREATING LATEX.

Application filed February at, 5.917.

d To all whom it may concern:

Be it ,known that I, EDWARD MARK. SLocUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medan, Province of Deli, Sumatra, Dutc East Indies, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for Treatin Latex, of which the following is a full, 0 ear, and exact description.

This invention relates to apparatus and processes for treating latex or similar material and more particularly to an apparatus and process for treatin latex during coagulation adapted to provide a coagulum having any desired sha 0.

One of the objects 0 the invention is to provide an apparatus of the kind described capable of treating large quantities of latex in a small area. Another object of thein' vention is to provide a simple and eflicient apparatus of the kind mentioned adapted to produce a dense coagulum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process of the kind described for preparing easily handleable continuous lengths of coagglum. Anot or object is to provide a process of the kind mentioned for producing a dense compressed coagulum.

Briefly, the apparatus consists of a chamber for coagulating latex and means in the chamber to provide a coagulum having any desired shape.

In the accompanyini drawing wherein one of the possible em odiments of apparatus forming part of my invention is shown,

Figure 1 is a plan view thereof; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing the numeral 1 indicates a substantially cylindrical tank of steel or other material interiorly tinned and adapted to resist ressure, which serves as a chamber in which coagulation of latex or similar material may take place. The top of the chan ber is provided with a cover 2 refer-ably also of steel tin-lined and provided with radially disposed reinforcing I-beams 3 adapted to strengthen the top to resist pressure resulting from coagulation.

Specifics tier of I otte To 1 l" The cover is adapted to be held in place by means of a series of ivoted bolts 4 secured to the sides of the c iamber 1 adjacent the top thereof. These bolts pass through notches 5 and, 6 formed respectively in the edge of the cover 2 and in the lip 7 projecting from the cylinder 1. They are held in place by nuts 8 contacting with the face of cover 2 adjacent the notches 5.

Preferably to the under side of the cover 2 is attached a device for shaping the coagulum into a continuous strip. As here shown it consists of a, spiral partition 9 rolled on itself and providing spaces between successive convolutions having its center supported by an upright pin 10 attached substantially centrallyto the cover 2. The walls of the artition are attached to the under side of t e cover 2 by spaced brackets 11. The spiral partition extends preferably for the entire height of the chamber 1 and makes a tight fit with the bottom thereof. It is alsopreferably made 0; steel provided with an exterior covering 0 tin.

The apparatus has been found capable of treating large quantities of material in a small area and has proved simple and efiicient in use. The tank 1 may be made in any desired shape, for example, either oval or square, with or Without rounded corners, in accordance with the desired shape of the coagulum. It will, of course, be understood that the spiral partition may be replaced by partitions of other forms, although the spiral form is preferred in View of its simplicity and the eat length of coagulum strip which may e obtained by its use. A spiral like that shown in the drawing havingan extreme diameter of approximately thirty feet will produce a strip of approximately three hundred feet. Further the partition may or may not be secured to the cover and may be removahly or otherwise secured in the It will also be noted that tank may be made gas-tight and under these circumstances coagulation may be conducted under the pressure of any desired gas or similar agent. it will be understood that although chamber 1 as here shown is stations it may be mounted. on any suitable vehicle.

interior. take place, the spiral partition cooperating For example, the tank of a tank-car may constitute the chamber 1, in which maybe placed a spiral partition and coagulation allowed to take place during the transit of the material.

It will also be noted that the partition may be sectional or otherwise. In case a sectional partition is provided a spindle is placed in the middle of the tank and when coagulation is complete the coagulum is lifted out of the tank and the ends of the spindle are engaged by a suitable frame so that the coagulum may be rotated about its center. The strip is then reeled out, the p artition-segments or-sections being removed as freed by the winding 011' of the coagulum strip.

The process constituting part of my invention briefly consists in coagulating atex and shaping it during coagulation as a continuous strip. The process may be carried out b the apparatus above described, although any desired type of apparatus may be employed.

In its preferred form the recess consists in introducing the latex of evea Brasilie'nsix, or similar latex ada ted to expand upon coagulation into a suita le chamber such as the chamber 1 shown in the drawings, referably filling the latter to a point w ere, when the cover 2 with its spiral is put in place, the latex will completely occupy the Coagulation is then allowed to with the bottom wall and cover 2 and servingto shape the latex during coagulation.

In latices of the character of H e'vea which are adapted to expand when coagulated, the force of the coagulation expansion is preferably employed to provide a dense compressed coagulum. This is accomplished by securing the cover 2 in place by means of the bolts 4, whereby the expansion will be counteracted by the walls of the chamber and a fixed volume of coaguluin will result.

It will be understood that coagulation may be allowed to take place with or without the addition of various modifying agents, such as accelerators, retarding agents, antiseptics, etc. Sulfur or other vulcanizing agent may be added prior to coagulation or subsequent thereto, or at any other time prior to vulcanization.

The coagulum resulting from the process appears as an easily handleable continuous strip, which lies in the tank upon removal of the spiral partition as a laminated roll constituting a mass substantially solid along both axes. The coagulum in view of the pressure exerted thereon is also dense and finely grained.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof,

it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the specific form of the invention as set forth except as indicated in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invent1on,what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the kind described, in combination, a chamber for coagulating latex, and stationary means coiiperatmg with a wall of said chamber to provide a continuous strip of coagulum.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, in combination, a chamber for coagulating latex, and means cooperating with a wall of said chamber to provide a substantially spiral strip of coagulum.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, in combination, a chamber for coagulating latex, and a partition extending substantially throughout the chamber and seated against a wall of the chamber to provide a continuous strip of coagulum.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described, in combination, a chamber for coagulating latex, and 9. rolled partition therein roviding spaces between successive oonvo utions.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, in combination, a chamber for coagulating latex, a cover therefor, means to secure the cover in place, and a partition in said chamber cooperating with a wall thereof to provide a strip of coagulum.

6. In an apparatus of the kind described,

in combination, a chamber for coagulating latex, a cover therefor, and it rolled partition roviding spaces between successive convo utions in said chamber. 7. In an apparatus of the kind described, in combination, a chamber for coagulating latex, a cover therefor, means to secure the cover in place, and a spiral artition attached to said cover and exten ing substantially the entire height of the chamber.

8. A process of the kind described which comprises coagulating latex into a substantially solid mass and sha ing the mass durmg coagulation by partition walls as a substantia y continuous strip.

9. process of the kind described which comprises coagulating latex, and aha it during coagulation as a laminated ro 10. A process of the kind described which comprises coagulating latex into a substantially solid mass and shapingthe mass during coagulation as a substantially continuous strip by a spiral partition wall.

11. A process of the kind described which comprises confining latex between a form and the wall of a container inclosing the form, and coagulating the latex.

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